Mufflers for refrigerant compressors

Abstract

A refrigerant compressor includes a discharge portion and a muffler disposed at the discharge portion. The muffler includes an outer cylinder having a center axis, and a sleeve concentric with and radially inward of the outer cylinder relative to the center axis. The sleeve includes a plurality of radially extending through holes and provides a resonance cavity radially between the sleeve and the outer cylinder.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerant compressor, comprising:
 a discharge portion; and   a muffler disposed at the discharge portion, the muffler including
 an outer cylinder having a center axis, and 
 a sleeve concentric with and radially inward of the outer cylinder relative to the center axis and including a plurality of radially extending through holes, providing a resonance cavity radially between the sleeve and the outer cylinder. 
   
     
     
         2 . The compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the muffler is attached to the discharge portion. 
     
     
         3 . The compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the resonance cavity is sealed at its axial ends. 
     
     
         4 . The compressor of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of axially spaced annular plates within the resonance cavity.   
     
     
         5 . The compressor of  claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of annular plates includes a plurality of axially extending through holes. 
     
     
         6 . The compressor of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of axially extending through holes are equally circumferentially spaced from one another. 
     
     
         7 . The compressor of  claim 5 , wherein the radially extending through holes form axially spaced circumferential rows of radially extending through holes. 
     
     
         8 . The compressor of  claim 7 , wherein the plates are positioned axially between, and radially outward of, immediately adjacent of the circumferential rows. 
     
     
         9 . The compressor of  claim 5 , wherein the axially extending through holes are circumferentially aligned across two or more of the plates. 
     
     
         10 . The compressor of  claim 5 , wherein the radii of the axially extending through holes are greater than the radii of the radially extending through holes. 
     
     
         11 . The compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the radially extending through holes are equally circumferentially spaced from one another. 
     
     
         12 . The compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is welded to the cylinder. 
     
     
         13 . The compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the muffler is configured to receive fluid from the discharge portion into the sleeve. 
     
     
         14 . A method, comprising:
 providing a muffler fluidly between a discharge portion of a compressor and a condenser, the muffler including:
 an outer cylinder including an inner diameter surface and a center axis, and 
 a sleeve concentric with the outer cylinder and including a plurality of radially extending through holes, providing a resonance cavity radially between the outer cylinder and the sleeve. 
   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising:
 providing a plurality of axially spaced annular plates within the resonance cavity, each of the plurality of annular plates including a plurality of axially extending through holes.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the radially extending through holes form axially spaced circumferential rows of radially extending through holes, and the providing the plurality of axially spaced annular plates step includes positioning the plurality of annular plates axially between, and radially outward of, immediately adjacent of the circumferential rows. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising:
 sealing the resonance cavity at its axial ends.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising:
 welding the sleeve to the outer cylinder.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising:
 attaching the muffler to the discharge portion.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the muffler is configured to receive fluid from the discharge portion into the sleeve.